Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
I don't want to use a gun. I want to beat him with my bare hands.
Ricco severs the rope around my wrists right before Rodriguez tries to slam into him. Ricco ducks just in time and tosses Rodriguez to me.
My head hits him in the solar plexus, and the wind goes out of him.
He's already punching, pummeling with his huge, furious fists. I deflect his hits, but one lands straight in my rib cage and winds me.
With my hands now free, I come up swinging. I knock him in the jaw. When he hits the ground, I kick him. I hit him again and again, adrenaline surging through me as I punish the bastard that tortured my woman.
When he’s slumped beneath me, I pin him in place with my knee on his chest. I uncap my gun. Point it to his head. “You tortured Starla. She had nightmares for years because of you. You will never torture her again. And you will die with the knowledge of what I told you. Because no one will ever get it. That was my intention from the beginning, Rodriguez. I hope you enjoyed your last moments on this earth."
I force him to his knees, execution style. I dislodge the barrel of the gun and show him. "Look. You see, I'm going to make it easy on you. We could play Russian roulette all night. Or I can make you pull the trigger." I give it a spin. “Here you go,” I say pleasantly. “Now do it. Pull the trigger."
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Starla
At the last second, I look away.
The final thump is all I need. I feel Timeo reach for my trembling hand and give it a squeeze.
It’s strange to have two competing emotions warring with each other, but I can’t help it. I’m relieved but shaking. Exhausted but wired.
Timeo and I huddle under blankets while the Montavios want all the details. Someone takes away the body.
Timeo answers all of them. Now that Rodriguez is gone and Fern is apprehended, they want to know everything.
We’re in the back of some kind of SUV, and it feels like we’re driving with the president or something. The windows are tinted, and it glides along as if lifted on some sort of high-end suspension system. I’d bet anything it’s armored as well.
I can tell Timeo isn’t telling them everything, though.
“I fed them information that was irrelevant or easily refutable,” he begins. “Nothing that would give away trade secrets. I promise.”
“Explain why you were behind the supposed infiltration of The Castle,” Ricco says. Ricco’s a nice enough guy, but right now, I would not want to be Timeo. I fairly quake under the look he’s giving him now.
Wait, Timeo was behind that? Though he doesn’t seem surprised they figured it out. “I wanted more security at The Castle. I took advantage of the damaged bush outside when I arrived and made it appear worse than it was, because I knew if I gave Romeo reason to believe they were being watched, he’d up his game. I promise it was only a covert way of getting more security on deck.” He swallows hard and rubs a hand across his brow. “The Castle was Starla’s home. I knew they’d eventually come.”
“They did,” Ricco says on a low growl. “They didn’t get very far.”
Timeo blows out a breath. “Good.”
“We have questions, brother,” Sergio says seriously. He looks from me to Timeo. “And we want answers.”
“You’ll get them,” Timeo says. “All of them. But I’m going to ask that you give me one thing.”
Sergio and Ricco exchange a look. Ricco nods. “Everything he says matches what I found. We accessed the burner phone he gave Adriano. Nothing he sent makes us vulnerable.” Ricco looks at Timeo. “What is it that you want?”
Timeo looks to Sergio when he answers. “One night.”
“One night?” Sergio’s brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
“I want Starla alone for one night. Before we begin any debriefing. Before we get into anything else. In a place where there’s a fucking coffee pot and room service. I want one night at a hotel in Boston where we don’t have to answer to anyone or anything.”
I stare at him, my eyes wide. I’m not sure how I feel about this.
Timeo looks at me. “I want to talk to you alone. Privately.” He exhales and slumps back in his seat.
Sergio finally nods. “I’ll grant you one night. Tomorrow, we debrief. But I have one question.”
“Yes?”
“Not for you,” Sergio says. Instead, he looks at me. “Starla, is that okay with you?”
I swallow and nod. “Yeah,” I say in a husky voice. “Not sure Bella Notte is my jam. Like, no offense, but I’d like a quiet night without questions myself.” I frown at Timeo and toss Sergio a bone. “But make it a double. Two beds, please.”